Napkin holder



Sept. 6, 1927. 1,641,841

INVENTOR ...E JkuMEe'ruamg ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 6, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. FERNANDEZ, E NEW xoEK, N. Y.

Application led August 26, 1926. Serial No. 131,679.

My invention relates to a device for use in dispensing napkins and other' paper articles in single succession, as in restaurants and other eating places.

The general object of my invention is to provide a very simple and practical means whereby a depressible cover or the like will cause gripping means to give the napkin or other article a form to be conveniently grasped.

. Reference is to be had to the accompany- I ing drawings forming part of this specification, it being understood that the drawings are merely illustrative of one example ot' the l5 invention.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a napkin holder embodying my invention with parts being broken away.

' Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the grippers in the raised position. v

Figure 3 is a vertical section of the upper portion of the napkin holder when the grippers are in position engaging a napkin.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail in front elevation to show the illustrated form of the cover latching device.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the grippers.

In .carrying out my invention in accord ance 'with the illustrated example a suitable container 10 is provided to hold a stack of napkins A. Said container has a cover 11 hinged as at 12, the hinge having a-spring 13 tending to raise the cover. The opposite side of the container from the hinge has a l latch to hold the free end of the cover from being raised by spring 13. Said latch may have any suitable Jform. The spring 13 maintains the cover 11 raised to a position to be depressed for the gripping movement.

I have shown a rodle having inwardly directed end portions 15 movablev in holes 11() in container 10 to a position to prevent the covery 11 from rising or to a position to permit said cover to rise. In the cover-engaging position rod 14 is held by a slide 16 Vengaging a keeper plate 17 on container 10. The cover is adapted tok be depressed by 5 pressure against the key or disc 18. The use of said key 18 is not necessary as pressure may be exerted directly against the plates 21 next referred to. On the-cover 11 are brackets 19 or the like from which is swing-l the dropping of the grippers 23 under their own weight.

In use, downward pressure against key 18 will depress cover 11 thereby carrying ldownward the hangers 20 and the grippers 23 and thus causing the grippers to engage the uppermost napkin in the stack as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2 so that the continued downward movement of the grippers will buckle the engaged napkin to give it a looped portion a as shown in Figure 3 for the convenient grasping of the napkin.

I would state furthermore, that while the illustrated example constitutes a practical en'ibodiment or' my invention, I do not limit myself `strictly to the exact details herein illustrated since, manifestly, the same can be considerably varied without departure from the spirit of the invention as -delined in the appended claims.

I claim: A

l. A holder for paper napkins and other articles including a container, a depressible cover thereon, and hinged grippers on the cover adapted to engage an article in a stack and for giving thev article a looped portion to be grasped.

2. In a holder tor paper napkins and other articles, a container adapted tov hold a stack of the articles, a hinged cover thereon, a hanger swingably mounted on the cover, plates carried by said hanger, grippers carried beneath said plates and hinged along one edge, teeth on the grippers at the opposite edges to engage the article and give it a buckled form, and stops on the grippers adapted to yengage said plates to limit the downward movement of the grippers.

A. holder for paper napkins and other sheet articles including a container adapted to hold a stack of the articles, depressible mea-ns on rsaid container, a pair of grippers, and means pivotally mounting said grippers to partake ofthe movements of said Adepressible means, the pivots of the grippers being spaced a distance apart to cause the gripping edges to move in arcuate puths distant 'from nach other to afford u @leu ance for the article to buckle therebetween.

4. A holder for papel' napkins und other articles ineluding a container adapted to hold :L stuck oi the articles, depressible nieuns on Suid eentniner, u pail' of gi'ppeis, means pvotuiily mounting Suid gi'ippeis to purnke oil' the nmvenientu of Suid depi'eusible ineens, and u spring to raise Suid depi'essibie 10 means.

J OHN M. FERNANDEZ. 

